BSSEF’s programs – Alpine and Freeride – incorporate sanctioned competitions; Big Sky Resort’s youth programs do not. The resort offers several instructional programs for area athletes aged 7 to 15. For purposes of comparison, the most relevant of the resort’s Youth Local Programs are Wolverines and Big Sky Rippers:

The Wolverines program (ages 7-14) is similar to BSSEF’s Youth Ski League programs.

The resort’s Rippers program is most comparable to BSSEF’s Buddy Werner or Freeride programs and emphasizes advanced terrain.

We feel your pain. We’re helped immensely by our sponsors, and we do our best to keep our overhead low in order to keep program prices in check. Nevertheless, program fees, equipment, and travel conspire to make skiing and ski racing expensive. To make it less so, take advantage of early season program pricing and multi-program purchase discounts. Purchase used equipment via Montana Ski Racing Classified on Facebook and area ski swaps. (Bridger Ski Foundation hosts a great swap every Fall in Bozeman.) Last, but not least, make an application for a scholarship administered by Women in Action.

Subscribe to our email newsletter using the following form. In addition, The team’s Facebook page is a place to share informal information such as photos. Check the events calendar frequently, and download and install the TeamReach mobile app for up-to-the-minute training information.

The team’s meeting place is directly below the Summit Hotel clock tower. Athletes should be ready to go at 8:45 AM in order to board the lift promptly at 9:00 AM. Backpacks should be stored in the Mammoth Room on the second floor of the Mountain Mall. All skis should be placed in the racks by the Summit Hotel.

The entire team typically eats lunch between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM in the Mammoth Room on the second floor of the Mountain Mall. Timing can be a bit flexible, depending on conditions and the day’s training agenda. Coaches accompany the athletes, but athletes are responsible for getting their own lunches. Parents are welcome to join the team.

Most families bring lunch. Backpacks can be stored during the day in the corner or along the walls of the Mammoth Room. Other popular lunch options include the Lone Peak Cafe (right next to the Mammoth Room) and Yeti Dogs (in the Snowcrest Lodge across the plaza from the Mountain Mall).

With appropriate clothing, kids can ski and train in below zero weather. Sometimes, however, the start of training will be delayed in order to allow the temperature to rise a bit. In all cases, coaches will bring kids into the lodge for warm-ups as necessary. As always, check the TeamReach app for the latest updates regarding training.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard (formerly known as USSA) is the national governing body of Olympic skiing and snowboarding. It is the parent organization of the U.S. Ski Team. BSSEF is a member of the Northern Division, which, in turn, is part of the Western Region. The Alpine ski races in which our athletes participate are sanctioned by and organized under the rules of U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

All athletes who wish to compete in a U.S. Ski & Snowboard-sanctioned Alpine ski race must be an active member. At this time, Freeride competitions are organized by a different sanctioning body (IFSA).

The race organizing committee for each ski race must submit a race announcement to U.S. Ski & Snowboard several weeks before the event. The race announcement contains basic information such as location, schedule, and cost. When they are made available, the Northern Division will post them on its race calendar web page.

A hard-ear race helmet, a pair of four-buckle boots that fit well and aren’t too stiff, and a single pair of multi-event race skis are initially sufficient. Is a speed suit a necessity for your 8-year-old? Not really…but she will probably want one after she competes in her first few races. The bad news is that kids grow out of speed suits almost instantly. The good news is that there is, as a consequence, a thriving second-hand market. See the equipment page for more information.

No. Out-of-town races are time-consuming, expensive, and can distract from school and other commitments. You should not feel as if your athlete and family need to commit to every competition on the schedule. Even for highly engaged athletes, it’s possible to place too much emphasis on competitions.

That said, competitions are an integral part of the BSSEF experience, and they are a lot of fun. Not only does the experience of traveling to, and participating in, out-of-town races foster friendships among the kids, it does so for parents, too.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard points – like a golf handicap – are a measure of relative performance over time. The better one’s performance in ski races, the lower one’s points. Low points translate into preferred start numbers and improved chances to be selected for elite competitions and regional and national championships.

Our mission is to provide an opportunity for kids to become great skiers and pursue personal goals while promoting good sportsmanship, healthy competitiveness, sound technical skills, and an appreciation for the spirit of skiing in the mountains.